Pharmaceuticals and Global Health: Successes, Challenges and Outlook

19. July 2013, University of Sussex

Thomas B. Cueni, Secretary General InterpharmaAssociation of research-based pharmaceutical companies in Switzerland 

Pharmaceuticals and Global Health: Inequalities and Innovation in the 21st Century

The South African Lawsuit – An Ill-Conceived Battle Lawsuit: Started in 1998, when AIDS was not an issue. Debate: „Profits” versus „lives”. Focus: „Big pharma“ and „Access to Medicines“. What went wrong? - Unprecedented Industry PR disaster!- Patents and prices were seen as main barriers to AIDS treatment. - Industry allowed itself to be put into a corner. Result: - Amicable settlement.- Dialogue rather than confrontation.- Promote public-private partnerships (GAVI, AAI, MMV).

Access to Medicines: The South African Lawsuit

Number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries by WHO region, 2012

Source: 2013 Global AIDS Response Progress Reporting (WHO/UNICEF/UNAIDS).

Access to Medicines: An Industry Perspective The industry supports… Access programs featuring donation, capacity building,

education & training, preferential pricing schemes, voluntary licenses, non-assert declarations and transfer of technology

Research & development of new medicines and vaccines alone or in partnership

Good governance: good manufacturing practices, ethical standards, guarantee high quality, safety & efficacy of medicines and vaccines, comply with regulatory requirements

Numerous multinational initiatives: Global Fund, GAVI, WHO, UNITAID, Expansion of Philanthropic Initiatives are important examples of the work being done

Company programs (examples): African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) in Botswana by Merck and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Takeda Initiative on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria; AmpliCare by Roche for strengthening laboratory systems

Source: Technology Transfer: a Collaborative Approach to Improve Global Health, IFPMA ,2011.

Access to Medicines – A Complex Picture

Source: IFPMA Health Partnerships Survey, in: International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA): The Pharmaceutical Industry and Global Health: Facts and Figures. Issue 2012.

Treatments donated and sold at cost in developing countries

1400 Mio.by 2020

Many different factors working together in often complex ways:

Political commitment to HIV/AIDS has played a significant role International funding is a key part of increased access for the lowest

income countries Holistic programs are needed allowing the different components to

reinforce each other Collaboration between the generic industry and the innovator

industry contribute to addressing the epidemic

Successful multi-stakeholder initiatives

Investment in antiretroviral therapy (ART) Pharma pipeline: 2009–2011

Source: Funding Science Innovation: Global Investements in HIV Treatment Research and Development in 2010 and 2011, Treatment Action Group, 2013.

Undifferentiated pricing restricts access

Social value

Unique price

No access

Access

e.g. Romania

e.g. Germany

e.g. Vietnam

The role of differentiated pricing:Can we find the middle ground?

Solidaritywithin EU

Solidaritywithin the country

InternationalSolidarity

e.g. Romania

e.g. Germany

e.g. Vietnam

Access

Access

Access

Social value

For industrialized countries and pharmaceutical industry:

Supporting R&D, sound regulatory conditions and increase efficiency

Addressing access barriers through partnerships and individual company programs

Supporting financing through solidarity model (e.g differentiated pricing)

For emerging countries:

Partnership Working clearly most effective and efficient way forward

Creating the right innovation friendly environment (e.g. intellectual property protection)

For developing countries:

Collaboration with originators and other partners has proven to be successful

Other routes are also available – Global Fund, Philanthropic Initiatives, Member state capacity

building programs, WHO, NGOs

Access to Drugs:One of the top political priorities